OK. Don't Wash, Rinse, Repeat This!

I'm having a really difficult time understanding how this is considered a good alternative (by the manufacturer, buyer, pet-owner?) to how we used to wash cats in the bathtub with a towel wrapped around their body, slowly exposing the part that is being washed, while maintaining control over those dangerous claws!
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Rain, Sun, Rain, Repeat

For the weather, locally, it looks like we can expect sporadic clouds
and sun, with some light rain intermittently at uneven intervals.

Clear enough?

OK.

Jazz Fest Lineup Announced

JAZZ FEST ANNOUNCES 2007 TALENT LINEUP
FOR NEW ORLEANS’ PREMIER MUSIC EVENT,
APRIL 27-29 AND MAY 4-6
TICKETS ON SALE TODAY

April 27-29

Dr. John, Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, Norah Jones, Brad Paisley, Jill Scott, Irma Thomas, Ludacris WTF???, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pharoah Sanders, Lucinda Williams, Calexico, Soulive, Rebirth Brass Band, Richie Havens, Johnny Rivers, George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Banda el Recodo, Bobby Jones & the Nashville Super Choir, Gillian Welch, T-Bone Burnett, Pete Fountain, Arturo Sandoval, The New Orleans Social Club, Percy Sledge, Mose Allison, Marcia Ball, Bishop Paul Morton & the Greater St. Stephens Mass Choir, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, James Carter, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sonny Landreth, JJ Grey & MOFRO, Tab Benoit, Amanda Shaw, Davell Crawford, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews & Orleans Avenue, Subdudes, Terence Blanchard, George Porter, Jr. & Runnin' Pardners, Marva Wright, Zachary Richard avec Francis Cabrel, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Bobby Charles, Ba Cissoko of Guinea, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Lucky Peterson, Bobby Lounge, Linda Hopkins, Bonerama, Eddie Bo, Shannon McNally, Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, Henry Butler, Alexa Ray Joel, Kirk Joseph's Backyard Groove, Dirty Jerdy, Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, Pine Leaf Boys, Lafayette Rhythm Devils, Astral Project, Bob French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, The Crescent City Allstars feat. James Andrews, Les Amazones of Guinea, Lady Tambourine, James Rivers Movement, Charmaine Neville Band, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Leviticus Gospel Singers, Charles Jackson & the Jackson Travelers, Mari Watanabe, Andrew Hall's Society Brass Band, Leroy Jones & New Orleans' Finest, Some Like It Hot, Heritage Hall Band with Jewel Brown, Second Line til' you Drop featuring the music of Paul Barbarin, Michael Ward, Phillip Manuel, Rob Wagner Trio, Groove Academy, Ray Abshire, Bonsoir Catin, Burnside Exploration, Mem Shannon & the Membership, Rockie Charles, John Rankin, Imagination Movers, Kenny Bill Stinson & the Ark-LA-Mystics, Patrice Fisher & Arpa with guests Marcelo Cotarelli & members of the Ilhabela Big Band of Brazil, New Orleans Klezmer Allstars, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, VisionQuest Chorale of Dillard University, Second Nazarine Gospel Choir, Crown Seekers, Higher Dimensions of Praise, Zulu Gospel Male Ensemble, Local International Allstars, New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra, Gregg Stafford & the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Dukes of Dixieland, George French, Jean Knight & Knights' of Rhythm, Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys, Maggie Warwick & the Louisiana Hayride Band, Jesse McBride & the Next Generation, Xavier University Jazz Band, NewBirth Brass Band, Mahogany Brass Band, Theresa Andersson Group, Bluerunners, The Bingo! Show, Robert Lowery & Virgil Thrasher, Lil Ray Neal Blues Band, Guitar Slim, Jr., Bruce Flett & the Bluebirds, Bamboula 2000, Henry Turner, Jr., Fredy Omar con su Banda, Vivaz!, Topsy Chapman, The Johnson Extension, St. Joseph the Worker Gospel Choir, Rocks of Harmony, Val & Love Alive with the Dimensions of Faith, One A-Chord, Jo "Cool" Davis, Chris Clifton, Lars Edegran & the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, Hot Club of New Orleans, Kidd Jordan, Julliard Jazz Ensemble, Hot 8 Brass Band, Happy Talk Band, Grayson Capps & the Stumpknockers, Bryan Lee & the Blues Power Band, Reggie Hall & the Twilighters feat. Lady Bee, Big Al Carson, Li'l Freddie King Blues Band, Swamp-Blues Summit with Lil' Buck Sinegal and Rudy Richard, Don Rich, Judy Spellman, Panorama Jazz Band, AsheSon, Beyond Measure, McDonogh #35, Wimberly Family, Shades of Praise Choir, Lyle Henderson, Single Ladies, Nine Time Men and New Look SAPCs, Olympia Aid - YMO, Big Nine, Bon Temps Roulez and Popular Ladies SAPCs, Furious Five, Untouchables and Dumaine Gang SAPCs, Tulane Jazz Ensemble, SUBR Jazz Ensemble, NOCCA Jazz Ensemble, New Orleans Modified Drum Circle, Monsieur No of France, David & Roselyn, Mount Pilgrim & Morning Star Youth Mass Choir, Javier Juarez, Johnette Downing, The RRAAMS Drum and Dance, Basin Street Sheiks, Palmetto Puppet Theater, Black Seminoles and Carrollton Hunters Mardi Gras Indians, Big Chief Peppy & the Golden Arrows, Golden Star Hunters and the Red White & Blue Mardi Gras Indians, Yellow Jackets and Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indians...


May 4-6

Harry Connick Jr., Steely Dan, ZZ Top, John Legend, Allen Toussaint, Counting Crows, New EditionWTF???, George Benson, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Allman Brothers Band, Better Than Ezra, Joss Stone, Stephen Marley featuring Jr. Gong, Taj Mahal, Cowboy Mouth, Branford Marsalis, Dottie Peoples, Tony Joe White, Roy Hargrove, Galactic, The Holmes Brothers, The Radiators, Chuck Leavell, Irma Thomas' Tribute to Mahalia Jackson, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Elder Baab & the Madison Bumble Bees of Winnsboro, The Dixie Cups, Anders Osborne, Nicholas Payton, John Mooney & Bluesiana, Darrell McFadden, Snooks Eaglin, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Judith Owen, John Boutte, Franz Jackson, Lil' Band o' Gold, Luther Kent & Trickbag, Bob Wilber & the Soprano Summit tribute to Kenny Davern, Martha Redbone, Papa Grows Funk, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, Eric Lindell, World Saxophone Group, Danilo Perez, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Deacon John, Ivan Neville, Ellis Marsalis, Donald Harrison, Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Elysian Fieldz, The Iguanas, Buckwheat Zydeco, Terrance Simien, Danza feat. Evan Christopher & Tom McDermott, Jeremy Davenport, The Jazz Jam, The Woodshed feat. Roland Guerin and James Singleton, Poncho Chavis & Boozoo's Dog Hill Stompers, D.L. Menard, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Sherman Washington & the Zion Harmonizers, Clive Wilson & the Original Camelia Jazz Band feat. Butch Thompson, Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders, Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots with guest Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, Germaine Bazzle, Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band feat. Thais Clark, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, Benjy Davis Project, Twangorama, Morning 40 Federation, Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, Kevin Gordon, Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, The Revealers, Banu Gibson & New Orleans Hot Jazz, Higher Heights, Paulette Wright, Rumba Buena, Julio y Cesar Band, Wanda Rouzan & a Taste of New Orleans, John Lee & the Heralds of Christ, Coolie Family, Unstoppable Gospel Singers, Dynamic Smooth Family, Mount Hermon BC Choir, Gospel Inspirations of Boutte, June Gardner, Lionel Ferbos & the Palm Court Jazz Band, Mark Braud, Last Straws, Batiste Brothers Band, Herman Jackson, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Sharon Martin, Groovemasters, Smitty Dee's Brass Band, Creole Zydeco Farmers, Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers, Goldman Thibodeaux & the Lawtell Playboys, Willis Prudhomme & Zydeco Express, Rotary Downs, Ernie Vincent, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Ingrid Lucia, Henry Gray & the Cats, Beth Patterson & Kalafka, Johnny Angel & the Swingin' Demons, Leah Chase, the Plowboys, Percussion Inc., Michael Skinkus & Moyuba, Franklin Avenue BC Mass Choir, Melody Clouds, Providence BC Choir, Voices of Distinction, Treme Brass Band, New Orleans Jazz Vipers, Gov't Majik, Storyville Stompers Brass Band, Pinstripe Brass Band, J. Monque'D Blues Band, Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, Benny Grunch & the Bunch, Lil Nathan & Zydeco Big Timers, Betsy McGovern & the Poor Clares, Nouveau String Band, 007, Rick Trolsen & Gringo do Choro, Watson Memorial Teaching Ministries, Greater Antioch Full Gospel Choir, Tim Laughlin, New Orleans Spiritualettes, The Golden Wings, Chris Burke, Louis Ford with guest Barbara Shorts, Maurice Brown, Tornado Brass Band, Paulin Brothers Brass Band, Lady Sequence, New Generation and Lady Rollers SAPCs, Original CTC, Lady Buckjumpers and Undefeated Divas SAPCs, Big Seven, Westbank Steppers and Prince of Wales SAPCs, The UNO Louis Armstrong Jazz Quintet, Loyola University Jazz Ensemble, Heritage School of Music, Racines, Louis "Gearshift" Youngblood, Po' Henry & Tookie, Coco Robicheaux & Spiritland, Rufus "Rip" Wimberly & the Dreamers, Fi Yi Yi Mardi Gras Indians, New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Rhythm Section, Chops Funky 7, Wild Apaches Mardi Gras Indians, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles, Curtis Pierre Samba Man, Guyland Leday, Stax Music Academy Revue with Stephen Foster, Kayla Woodson, KidsmArt Performers, Jonno & the Cajun Experience, Guinoleros UAS of Culiacan Mexico, N'Kafu African Dance Ensemble...

Don't You Wish?

Driving a Humvee in Iraq...

What would you pay to be able to drive like that at home?

Golf Simplified

I've golfed a few times. Mostly to round out a foursome that was lacking one player. I never invested the time necessary to become a good golfer. I was told that the problem is that I'm standing too close to the ball after I've hit it.

This guy explains things in a way that reinforces why I may never become a good golfer.
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Apple at CES

New products you may not be able to live without.

Coming soon to an Apple store near you.

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You Didn't Know You Needed These

You didn't know that you needed sign language for your bar hopping soirees. Now that you have easy access to this online lexicon, aren't you better for it?


I didn't think so.


Slightly humorous.

Chicago Bears V Indianapolis Colts

Are you all aware that no Manning playing QB in the NFL has ever made it to a SuperBowl --- and therefore, has never won a SB? HaHAA! Some of us "sore losers" that are fans of other teams delight in their misery. Abrasive? OK. But watching the 2004 Steelers go 15-1 in the regular season and then foul it up in the playoffs, none of us wanted to see the Colts nor the Patriots go any further into the playoffs.

Now, we have Peyton Manning trying to do what his brother, Eli, probably won't and his father, Archie, never did while a quarterback: win the national championship. Don't think that I hate him because he's a great quarterback. I just hate to see the wrong team advance. Luckily, the Steelers made up for their shortfall in the 2004 postseason during the 2005 postseason and they went on to win SuperBowl XL last year.

Admittedly the win against the Colts came on the missed field goal kick of Van der Jagt in the last seconds of that game. Van der Choke was replaced in the offseason by the league's most reliable FG kicker from their arch-nemesis -- the Patriots' Adam Vinatieri. The Patriots had taken out the Colts 2x on their road to SB victories in 2003 and 2004? I'll research the dates.

SO - After posting the best record ever for an AFC team, the Steelers' rookie quarterback in 2004 flubbed the game away and came back the next year to win the big one. I sense that the very same thing will happen with Manning and the Colts against the Chicago Bears, who are led by Rex Grossman --- said to be the worst QB in a SuperBowl.

Coachella or JazzFest?

Hmmmm. The two music festivals are schedule so closely together on the calendar.

Which to attend?

Coachella near Palm Springs, or the Jazz and Heritage Festival in NOLA?

Easy.

NOLA, here I come!!!


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Dirtiest Player in the NFL

Having the reputation as the dirtiest player in the league, Rodney Harrison of the New England Patriots will not play in Sunday's playoff game against the Colts. Wahhh. Payback's a bitch, they say.
The Steelers took him out of a game last season and he missed the playoffs then, also.
The word is that, when he retired, Bill Romanowski passed the crown to Harrison.
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OOPS. A costly prediction, maybe?

JACKSON, Miss. (Jan. 19, 2007) -- It seemed the safest gamble a businessman could make.

The owners of Cowboy Maloney's Electric City chain in Mississippi offered anyone who bought a high-end flat-screen TV during Saints training camp their money back if the Saints won the Super Bowl.

"At that time we obviously didn't anticipate -- and anybody who saw the Saints working out at Millsaps (College) would not have anticipated -- that that statement would cause you any grief at all," said Con Maloney, who owns the chain of 12 electronics and appliance stores with his brothers, Eddie and Johnny. "We just kind of laughed it off."

Now, the Maloney brothers are preparing to pay back about $1 million to more than 800 customers. That money will come from insurance and manufacturers who have agreed to pick up a portion of the costs.

Maloney, whose brothers will attend the game at Chicago, said he spent a few days at training camp and didn't catch a glimpse of a potential Super Bowl team. New quarterback Drew Brees lacked arm strength after offseason shoulder surgery, running back Deuce McAllister limped around after knee surgery and Reggie Bush was under wraps.

"Put all of these things together and you just sat there and kind of scratched your head," he said.

Soon, he might be scratching out checks.

One possible beneficiary is LeMoyne Martin, a 47-year-old Jackson resident who bought a 52-inch Mitsubishi projection screen TV.

Sunday, he'll watch his beloved Saints on that new television. He describes himself as a johnny-come-lately fan who picked up the habit five or six years ago after he started feeling sorry for the Saints.

"I just felt so bad for the team I decided I'd start pulling for them, and look at them now," he said.

Nasty

I just turned down some "beef soup something" with bean sprouts, noodle, and vegetables of unk origin. It was the "fish sauce" that somebody put in the soup that fucked it up. It smelled like bad pussy. Sorry, everyone. That's what it smelled like. Why would you put fish sauce in beef soup? WTF?
Before I sat down at the table, that's what entered my mind. Either decomposing animal ( a person smells this frequently while hiking or biking outside of the city ) or a person who hasn't showered for too long.
I realize that my reaction is extreme right now and I'll settle in a few hours. But SHIT! That's not something that you "get used to". Trust me. Nasty.
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No reason to complain about the weather

We live in a verrrry fair-weathered place.
I won't soon be complaining about the weather.
This is why.

I Wasn't Searching For This

But, I'm glad I found it accidentally.
A video of people riding Zip Lines -- possibly in New Zealand -- that we also rode in Costa Rica a couple years ago. I could never accurately describe the experience. And in the video age, a thousand feet of film are worth a bezillion words. I have to say that in Costa Rica, the sensation included more fear. Fear of the cable breaking. Fear of falling from the highest zip line in the country : 823 feet. Fear of being in a foreign-language country and not being able to accurately convey the injuries to receive medical care afterward.

Click it.

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Fast Times at ST Park

From Coleman and Winfield to Coyote Point and back.
Took the camera, left the cyclometer at home.

Pix :

Saddam's Bicycle?




















Began this ride a little too late. Ended up riding out in the dark, eager to see streetlights. Nearly itch black on the trails --- I almost collided with two horses riding slowly toward me. That was a first. Who else is crazy enough to be out after dark w/o lights?

Had to ride the Rocky Ridge downhill. There's a point in every ride where you tell yourself that you're going to accomplish what you set out to do. The option of turning back to shorten the ride evaporates. Truth be told : I stopped and took wayyy too many photos.

It's a great time of year for sailing?

Ze boat is cntrd btwn the left two guardrail posts, at the top of the water

Holly cannolli, it wasn't very cold, but it was soooooo clear today.

On the way home from MTB in the woods, I saw a Hobie Catamaran out of the corner of my eye, sailing just past sundown at Lexington Reservoir. My kinda thing. Yea, I know, not lately. But, I spent many a day in my youth doing exactly that. Usually during the Spring and Summer. Gotta love the spirit.

Sorry -- no tripod today. Crappy images. Shaking from endorphins after a killer ride and lowwww light after sunset. You get the idea, tho.
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Wilder Ranch and the View of Monterey

Always click to enlarge

The view of Felton / Scotts Valley area

Woke up, looked out the window, looked at the satellite view of the west coast and then I took the camera for a MTB ride today. Started at the UCONN trail that begins on hwy nine in Felton, then continues into UCSC and across Empire Grade, a person can continue into Grey Whale and then Wilder Ranch down to Hwy 1.

From Wilder Ranch on Hwy 1 just North of Santa Cruz, there are several spots where 130-degree views of the edge of the Earth are clearly visible. From the Eucalyptus Grove picnic tables, I could see the white water and the tan sand of the beaches at Monterey. Between groves of trees on this side, I could make out buildings and cars and the rising edge of the bay over there.

same spot, zoomed in a little

To the North, I could see indeterminate land mass and the clear ocean until nothing more. The angle of the sun prevented the camera from capturing what my fried eyes could see further to the right in this image.

The cliff drop adjacent to the trail to Enchanted Loop needs a fence or something. A simple sign won't save somebody from falling off this hazard.

I must re-take this shot. It's MUCH further down than this looks.

Not much wildlife beyond birds today. 53F and occasional wind. The highway message sign on 17 advised slow speeds due to high winds. The pine trees next to my office window on the 3rd floor were swirling pretty strongly yesterday, so maybe they're right about that one.

A little storm damage from a week ago. Some downed trees and branches. Most have been cleared. There's one downed tree part that dropped straight onto the trail at Enchanted Loop. It's tough to get good lighting under the canopy, without a slave strobe.

exiting Enchanted Loop

On the way home on Hwy 17, there was next to zero traffic on my side and plenty on the Southbound side. If you know that road, the northbound version is just like mountainbiking or skiing or snowboarding. It's very swoopy. Don't shoot and drive.

I noticed a catamaran sailing at Lexington Reservoir, so I had to pull over and attempt to photo in the dimming light.

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This is a Great Thing in March

Handmade Bicycle Show in San Jose
click!

This is what I'm reallllly after : Intense 5.5" rear travel & built for 29er wheels. SantaCruz keep saying they're not making a 29er... I'd like to see a Nomad 9, but it doesn't exist. Their long-standing official word has been "not in the plans". You can't even buy these jerseys in the States. Specialized rumours abound, but no Epic 29 bikes.

Real Snow for Sale on eBay

Uhhhhh. Did I miss something here?
There's no quantity specified.
Shipping is $25.00
Is it being shipped guaranteed? By a refrigerated carrier? WTF?
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Fifty Ways to Leave the Living

Who wrote that song, "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover"? Paul Simon?
Anyway, here's Fifty Ways to Leave the Living. As in, die.

The 2006 Annual Darwin Awards have been issued.
If self-preservation is an instinct which you possess, you'll invest the time to review the fatal follies of your fellow man.
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Happy New Year